Stackable cards

ABSTRACT

A stackable playing card having a non-slip coating applied to at least one of the peripheral edges of the playing card.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority date of the provisional application entitled “Stackable Cards” filed by Dane Scarborough on Feb. 20, 2008 with application Ser. No. 61/030,147, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to generally to toys and games, and more particularly relates to playing cards configured for stacking and the method(s) of making the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Building a house of cards (also known as a “card tower”) is a pastime involving the stacking of playing cards on top of each other in order to form a structure. Traditionally, standard playing cards, such as those manufactured by the United States Playing Card Company, are used for the building of such a house of cards.

Standard playing cards are typically produced via a production process similar to the following description. The process begins with a large sheet of suitable base material (e.g., layered paper, cardboard, “pasteboard,” plastic, cellulose acetate polymer). This base material's front and back faces are then laminated with a media layer (e.g., paper, plastic) upon which card face/back indicia is printed. A finish (e.g., varnish, hard coat, clear coat) is then applied to the media layer to seal the ink, provide a desired finish (typically resulting in a slick, glossy card surface) and to make the cards more durable. The sheets are then cut and arranged in bands (vertical stripes) before undergoing a cutting operation that cuts out the individual cards. After assembling the new decks, they pass through the corner-rounding process that will confer the final outline: the typical rectangular playing-card shape. Finally, each deck is wrapped in cellophane, inserted in its case and is ready for the final distribution.

The problem with traditional (standard) playing cards is that they have slick edges which make them difficult to stack, the card tending to slide laterally relative to one another, oftentimes causing the card house/structure to collapse while being built.

By coating the edge of a playing card with a non-slip material that increases friction between the card edge and the underlying surface (as described in the present specification), a house of cards can be constructed more easily, particularly by children and casual house of cards builders. Applying a non-slip material to the edges of a playing card is counter to the teachings of playing card prior art, in that the prior art teaches and stresses the use of frictionless materials so as to ensure that during use, shuffling and dealing, the playing cards do not stick together and instead slide smoothly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed herein is stackable playing cards and a method of making the same. In one embodiment, a stackable playing card is disclosed, the stackable playing card comprising a card body and a non-slip material. The card body having a periphery defined by a first side opposite a second side and a first end opposite a second end. The card body further comprising a card face having a low friction finish opposite to a card back having a low friction finish. It is preferred that the card back comprise indicia depicting architectural plans for building a house of cards. The non-slip material extending from at least a portion of said card periphery.

Still other features and advantages of the claimed invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description describing preferred embodiments of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by carrying out my invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiments are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive in nature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a stackable playing card.

FIG. 2 is a plan view (slightly exaggerated) of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a stackable playing card.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of a stackable playing card.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined herein.

In the following description and in the figures, like elements are identified with like reference numerals. The use of “or” indicates a non-exclusive alternative without limitation unless otherwise noted. The use of “including” means “including, but not limited to,” unless otherwise noted.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1-3, shown is a first embodiment of a stackable playing card 10. The stackable playing card 10 comprising a card body 12 having a periphery 13. The card periphery 13 comprising a first side 20 opposite a second side 22 and a first end 24 opposite a second end 26. The card further comprising a front (or “face”) 16 opposite a back 18. The card having a thickness 21 along said card periphery 13 defined by the spacing of the face 16 from the back 18. The face 16 and the back 18 oriented in generally parallel planes to one another.

A non-slip material 14 attaches to and/or extends from a least a portion of said periphery 13. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, all four of said sides and ends (20, 22, 24, 26) have non-slip material 14 extending there-from. The non-slip material 14 being preferably a rubberized or tacky material, including but not limited to rubber, silicone, plastic and other materials. By coating the edges of the card with the non-slip material 14, when a user builds a structure, such as a card house, the stacked cards are better able to grip one another and become less prone to fall over, the non-slip material 14 providing resistance to slippage.

The thickness of the non-slip material 14 can be any desired thickness for creating the desired non-slip surface, including, but not limited to, extremely thin sprayed on non-slip coatings, and strips of non-slip material attached to the card's periphery 13.

It is preferred that the non-slip material 14 be a coating that is applied to at least a portion of the periphery 13. This application can be made through any suitable means, including, but not limited to, forming onto, spraying on, rolling on, dipped on, painting on, wiping, etc.

It is preferred that the non-slip material 14 be limited to the edge of the card so as to not interfere in the normal use of the cards, for instance in shuffling or card game playing. Alternatively, the non-slip material could be shaped to reduce the possibility of interfering in the normal use, for instance, the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 showing a stackable card 110 comprising a playing card 112 having a face 116 and a back 118, as well as a first side 120 and a second side 122. Extending from the first and second sides is a non-slip material 114 having a tapered configuration. FIG. 5 showing a stackable card 210 comprising a playing card 212 having a face 216 and a back 218, as well as a first side 220 and a second side 222. Extending from the first and second sides is a non-slip material 214 having a generally recessed (in relationship to the plane of the face 216 and the back 218) configuration. Alternatively, one or more recesses (e.g. notches) could be defined in the ends and/or sides of the card for containing therein non-slip material.

In another embodiment, not shown in the drawings, the cards can include traditional, suited, playing card indicia on their face side, and indicia depicting architectural plans for building a card house/building on the other (back) side.

In another embodiment, the card may be completely coated in the non-slip material, allowing the surface of the card to further interact with the non-slip material on edges of adjacent cards, thereby creating even more improved interaction between the edge and card surface. Such an embodiment would appear just like the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. Preferably, however, the face and back of the playing card have a traditional slick texture (“low friction finish”) allowing them to be used as traditional playing cards, able to be easily shuffled, dealt, and handled without sticking together.

While there is shown and described the present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

The purpose of the Abstract of the Disclosure is to enable the public, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection, the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract of the Disclosure is neither intended to define the invention of the application, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

Still other features and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description describing preferred embodiments of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by carrying out my invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification in various obvious respects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiments are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive in nature. 

1. A stackable playing card, comprising: a card body, said card body defining a periphery comprising a first side opposite a second side and a first end opposite a second end, said card body further comprising a card face having a low friction finish opposite to a card back having a low friction finish; and a non-slip material extending from at least a portion of said card periphery.
 2. The stackable playing card of claim 1, wherein said non-slip material extends from the entire periphery.
 3. The stackable playing card of claim 1, wherein said non-slip material extends from at least one of said sides and at least one of said ends.
 4. The stackable playing card of claim 1, wherein said non-slip material is selected from the group consisting of rubber, silicone, and plastic.
 5. The stackable playing card of claim 1, wherein said non-slip material comprises a sprayed on coating.
 6. The stackable playing card of claim 1, wherein said non-slip material is applied to said periphery by roll-on application.
 7. The stackable playing card of claim 1, wherein said non-slip material comprises a strip of material attached to said periphery.
 8. The stackable playing card of claim 1, wherein said non-slip material does not contact said face or said back.
 9. The stackable playing card of claim 1, wherein said card face has a plane and said card back has a plane, wherein said planes are generally parallel to one another, and wherein said non-slip material does not cross the plane of said face or the plane of said back.
 10. The stackable playing card of claim 1, wherein said card face has a plane and said card back has a plane, wherein said planes are generally parallel to one another, and wherein said non-slip material is tapered away from the plane of said face and the plane of said back.
 11. The stackable playing card of claim 1, wherein said non-slip material 14 is generally recessed in relationship to the plane of the face and the plane of the back.
 12. The stackable playing card of claim 1, wherein said back comprises indicia depicting architectural plans for building a house of cards.
 13. A stackable playing card, comprising: a card body, said card body defining a periphery comprising a first side opposite a second side and a first end opposite a second end, said card body further comprising a card face having a low friction finish opposite to a card back having a low friction finish; and a non-slip material extending from at least one of said sides and at least one of said ends.
 14. The stackable playing card of claim 1, wherein said non-slip material extends from the entire periphery.
 15. The stackable playing card of claim 13, wherein said non-slip material does not contact said face or said back.
 16. The stackable playing card of claim 13, wherein said card face has a plane and said card back has a plane, wherein said planes are generally parallel to one another, and wherein said non-slip material does not cross the plane of said face or the plane of said back.
 17. The stackable playing card of claim 13, wherein said non-slip material does not contact said face or said back, and wherein said card face has a plane and said card back has a plane, wherein said planes are generally parallel to one another, and wherein said non-slip material does not cross the plane of said face or the plane of said back.
 18. The stackable playing card of claim 16, wherein said non-slip material is tapered away from the plane of said face and the plane of said back.
 19. The stackable playing card of claim 13, wherein said back comprises indicia depicting architectural plans for building a house of cards.
 20. A stackable playing card, comprising: a card body, said card body defining a periphery comprising a first side opposite a second side and a first end opposite a second end, said card body further comprising a card face having a low friction finish opposite to a card back having a low friction finish, wherein said card back comprises indicia depicting architectural plans for building a house of cards; and a non-slip material extending from at least a portion of said card periphery. 